This week’s reflection is by Liz Bristow, a lay-leader, and the co-warden of St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Nantucket, Mass. Her church undertook RenewalWorks in Spring 2026.

In June of 2025 our Vestry began discussions about it being time for another pause and assessment of the life of the parish.  I was newly in the role as Co-Warden, having been elected 6 months prior, which also happened to coincide with the Rector’s three month sabbatical.   I am a psychotherapist by profession and a life long Episcopalian.  I am a Two on the Enneagram, “The Helper.” I am deeply relational, not analytical, so the thought of designing or choosing an appropriate church survey filled me with trepidation.  And a bit of dread if I am being completely honest.

A parish survey had been completed in May 2020, in the early days of the pandemic. Reading these results 6 years later feels so bittersweet — there was so much suffering, but also such deep gratitude and gentleness from the Parish community created around the Rector and his wife’s offerings.  Particularly something they broadcast called Prayers from the Attic. 

I do understand the importance of surveys, and try to complete them when asked.  However, the thought of a church survey felt incredibly dry, and quite frankly uninspiring.  I envisioned questions like do you think the church is doing a good job?  The past years since the pandemic have included great successes and some rocky moments, which felt too soon and too fresh to have much helpful perspective.  Luckily I wasn’t alone in my thinking, we all were looking for ways to learn and grow that felt spiritually nourishing.  My Co-Warden and I discussed different options with the Rector; we were in touch with our Regional Canon about a Mutual Ministry Review.  None of it felt very exciting.  After thinking and praying on this the Holy Spirit intervened.  One of our beloved parishioners and Vestry members went to high school with Loren Dixon of RenewalWorks.  I can’t imagine a more beautiful answer to our prayers.  RenewalWorks was completely different than anything we had done and felt expansive in what it got us thinking about and learning.  It was exactly right for where we were, and are, on our journey as a faith community.

The Vestry met for the four workshops through the winter to discern the results of the survey and to discuss our own spiritual life personally and as the governing body of the church.  In the end we learned what in many ways we knew instinctively, but it was affirming to have this confirmed.  We are a very extroverted parish that deeply values our spiritual friendships, and that is seeking and looking for ways to grow our spiritual lives.  

The life of the Parish since 2020 has been filled with a deep commitment to outreach within the community through feeding ministries, reading to Kindergarteners in an after school program, providing bikes for seasonal workers and the envisioning and launching of a Toy Library, among numerous other programs.  These ministries have brought the parish alive with vision and purpose, and have connected us to the broader community in incredibly enriching ways.  

RenewalWorks encouraged us to keep doing the work we are being called to do, while adding moments of spirituality to these ministries.  Prayer before meetings, and speaking more openly about our faith are just some of the small changes we have done to grow our spiritual lives.  The sharing of our spiritual stories during Workshop 1 was a very moving and touching experience that brought us closer as a Vestry and something we continue to reference. As we continue to understand and absorb our take-aways from the RenewalWorks experience, it will be interesting to see where the Holy Spirit leads us next.  

Liz Bristow is co-warden of St. Paul’s, Nantucket, Mass.